Athy captured in a moment in time
A reneacted drone photograph by Anthony Hubbock taken on Saturday 19 July 2025 of the newly refurbished Emily Square in Athy
It was a moment to remember in Athy as gathered in the freshly paved ti Emily Square to have their photograph taken – adding a new chapter to the town’s living history.
The idea came from artist Anthony Haughey who had launched Art House Athy – a gallery and workshop space on Leinster Street as part of his Creative Places Athy: Collect and Gather residency.
During his residency, Haughney visited the home of Athy historian Frank Taaffe to explore his photographic archive while preparing for Art House’s inaugural exhibition.
He discovered a powerful image by John Minihan, depicting a large gathering in Emily Square in 1987. Inspired by the photograph – and by the opportunity to mark the recent refurbishment of the square, Haughey reached out to Minihan to propose a new collaborative project.
In September, during the official launch of Emily Square, Minihan’s original 1987 photograph and Haughey’s new version will be displayed side by side in the windows of Art House. Both images will be available to purchase, with a special limited edition printed for future public exhibition. More photos in next week's paper.
